Display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus includes: a base substrate; a thin film transistor disposed on the base substrate and including an active pattern; an insulating layer disposed on the active pattern of the thin film transistor; a connection electrode disposed on the insulating layer, and electrically connected to the thin film transistor, wherein the connection electrode includes a curved wiring portion; a first via insulating layer covering the connection electrode; a first electrode disposed on the first via insulating layer; a light emitting layer disposed on the first electrode and at least partially overlapping the connection electrode; and a second electrode disposed on the light emitting layer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 USC § 119 to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2019-0114783 filed on Sep. 18, 2019 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office (KIPO), the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept relate generallyto a display apparatus. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of thepresent inventive concept relate to a display apparatus having aconnection electrode.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

As the technology improves, display products having smaller sizes,lighter weights, and superior performance are being produced.Conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions have been widely usedfor display apparatuses because of their performance and price.Recently, however, a display apparatus such as a plasma displayapparatus, a liquid crystal display apparatus, and an organic lightemitting diode display apparatus have been increasingly used because,when compared to a CRT, these display apparatuses provide increasedminiaturization or portability, are light in weight, and have relativelylow power consumption.

The organic light emitting diode display apparatus typically includes asubstrate, a plurality of wirings disposed on the substrate, and a lightemitting structure disposed on the wirings.

SUMMARY

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, adisplay apparatus includes: a base substrate; a thin film transistordisposed on the base substrate and including an active pattern; aninsulating layer disposed on the active pattern of the thin filmtransistor; a connection electrode disposed on the insulating layer, andelectrically connected to the thin film transistor, wherein theconnection electrode includes a curved wiring portion; a first viainsulating layer covering the connection electrode; a first electrodedisposed on the first via insulating layer, a light emitting layerdisposed on the first electrode and at least partially overlapping theconnection electrode; and a second electrode disposed on the lightemitting layer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the displayapparatus further includes: a plurality of data lines arranged along afirst direction, wherein each of the data lines extend in a seconddirection crossing the first direction, wherein the connection electrodeincludes a first contact portion, a second contact portion spaced apartfrom the first contact portion in the second direction, and the curvedwiring portion which connects the first contact portion to the secondcontact portion.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, a dataline, of the plurality of data lines, adjacent to the connectionelectrode includes a straight line portion and a curved line portionconnected to the straight line portion, wherein the curved line portionis adjacent to the curved wiring portion of the connection electrode.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lightemitting layer includes a blue light emitting layer configured to emitblue light.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the displayapparatus further includes: a red light emitting layer spaced apart fromthe blue light emitting layer and configured to emit red light; and agreen light emitting layer spaced apart from the blue light emittinglayer and the red light emitting layer and configured to emit greenlight, wherein a thickness of the blue light emitting layer is smallerthan a thickness of each of the red and green light emitting layers.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the displayapparatus further includes: a plurality of power lines arranged along afirst direction, wherein each of the power lines extend in a seconddirection crossing the first direction, wherein the connection electrodeincludes a first contact portion, a second contact portion spaced apartfrom the first contact portion in the second direction, and the curvedwiring portion which connects the first contact portion to the secondcontact portion, and wherein a power line, of the plurality of powerlines, adjacent to the connection electrode includes a straight lineportion and a curved line portion connected to the straight lineportion, wherein the curved line portion is adjacent to the curvedwiring portion of the connection electrode.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, theconnection electrode includes a first contact portion, a second contactportion spaced apart from the first contact portion, and the curvedwiring portion connecting the first contact portion to the secondcontact portion, and wherein the curved wiring portion has an annularshape.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the curvedwiring portion overlaps the light emitting layer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, theconnection electrode includes a first contact portion, a second contactportion spaced apart from the first contact portion, and the curvedwiring portion connecting the first contact portion to the secondcontact portion, and wherein the curved wiring portion has a curvedshape.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the displayapparatus further includes: source and drain electrodes disposed betweenthe base substrate and the connection electrode; and a second viainsulating layer disposed between the source and drain electrodes andthe connection electrode, wherein the connection electrode iselectrically connected to the drain electrode through a contact holeformed through the second via insulating layer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, theconnection electrode includes a contact portion and the curved wiringportion connected to the contact portion, and wherein the contactportion of the connection electrode is electrically connected to thefirst electrode through a contact hole formed through the first viainsulating layer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the curvedwiring portion of the connection electrode has an annular shape, andwherein the curved wiring portion overlaps the light emitting layer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the curvedwiring portion of the connection electrode has a curved shape, andwherein the curved wiring portion overlaps the light emitting layer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, theconnection electrode includes a first contact portion, a second contactportion spaced apart from the first contact portion, and the curvedwiring portion which connects the first contact portion to the secondcontact portion, and wherein each of the first contact portion and thesecond contact portion is electrically connected to a conductive patternof another layer through a contact hole formed through the second viainsulating layer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, aconcavo-convex portion corresponding to the connection electrode isformed on a top surface of the first via insulating layer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, aconcavo-convex portion corresponding to the concavo-convex portion ofthe first via insulating layer is formed on a top surface of the firstelectrode.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, adisplay apparatus includes: a base substrate; a thin film transistordisposed on the base substrate and including an active pattern; aninsulating layer disposed on the active pattern of the thin filmtransistor; a connection electrode disposed on the insulating layer, andelectrically connected to the thin film transistor, wherein theconnection electrode includes a dummy portion including a horizontalportion extending in a first direction; a via insulating layer coveringthe connection electrode; a first electrode disposed on the viainsulating layer; a light emitting layer disposed on the first electrodeand overlapping the dummy portion of the connection electrode; and asecond electrode disposed on the light emitting layer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the dummyportion further includes a vertical portion extending in a seconddirection substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, theconnection electrode further includes a first contact portion, a secondcontact portion spaced apart from the first contact portion in a seconddirection, and a connection wiring portion connecting the first contactportion to the second contact portion, and wherein the dummy portionextends from the first contact portion, the second contact portion, orthe connection wiring portion, and wherein the dummy portion overlapsthe light emitting layer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lightemitting layer is a blue light emitting layer configured to emit bluelight, wherein the display apparatus further includes: a red lightemitting layer spaced apart from the blue light emitting layer andconfigured to emit red light, and a green light emitting layer spacedapart from the blue light emitting layer and the red light emittinglayer and configured to emit green light, and wherein a thickness of theblue light emitting layer is smaller than a thickness of each of the redand green light emitting layers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present inventive concept willbecome more apparent by describing in detailed exemplary embodimentsthereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according toan exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a pixel includedin the display apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a display apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIG. 4 is a plan diagram illustrating a source-drain conductive layer, apixel electrode, and a light emitting layer of the display apparatus ofFIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are plan diagrams illustrating various examplesof connection electrodes of a display apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram of a display apparatus according toan exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIG. 7 is a plan diagram illustrating an electrode, a pixel electrode,and a light emitting layer of the display apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic apparatus accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating an example in which the electronicapparatus of FIG. 8 is implemented as a television; and

FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating an example in which the electronicapparatus of FIG. 8 is implemented as a smart phone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept willbe explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according toan exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 1, the display apparatus may include a display panel10, a scan driver 20, a data driver 30, an emission control driver 40,and a controller 50.

The display panel 10 may include a plurality of pixels PX for displayingan image. For example, the display panel 10 may include n×m pixels PXlocated at intersecting portions between scan lines SL1 to SLn and datalines DL1 to DLm (e.g., where n and m are integers greater than 1,respectively). The structure of the pixel PX will be described in detailwith reference to FIG. 2.

The scan driver 20 may sequentially provide a first scan signal to thepixels PX through the scan lines SL1 to SLn, and may sequentiallyprovide a second scan signal to the pixels PX through inverted scanlines /SL1 to /SLn based on a first control signal CTL1. For example,the second scan signal may be an inverted signal of the first scansignal.

The data driver 30 may provide a data signal to the pixels PX throughthe data lines DL1 to DLm based on a second control signal CTL2.

The emission control driver 40 may sequentially provide an emissioncontrol signal to the pixels PX through emission control lines EM1 toEMn based on a third control signal CTL3.

The controller 50 may control the scan driver 20, the data driver 30,and the emission control driver 40. The controller 50 may generate thecontrol signals CTL1 to CTL3 to control the scan driver 20, the datadriver 30, and the emission control driver 40, respectively. Forexample, the first control signal CTL1 for controlling the scan driver20 may include a scan start signal, a scan clock signal, and the like.For example, the second control signal CTL2 for controlling the datadriver 30 may include image data, a horizontal start signal, and thelike. For example, the third control signal CTL3 for controlling theemission control driver 40 may include an emission control start signal,an emission control clock signal, and the like.

In addition, the display apparatus may further include a power supplyunit configured to supply a first power supply voltage ELVDD, a secondpower supply voltage ELVSS, and an initialization voltage VINT to thedisplay panel 10.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a pixel includedin the display apparatus of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the pixel PX may include first to seventhtransistors T1 to T7, a storage capacitor CST, and an organic lightemitting diode OLED. The pixel PX may be located in an i^(th) pixel row(e.g., where i is an integer between 1 and n) and a j^(th) pixel column(e.g., where j is an integer between 1 and m).

The first transistor T1 may be a driving transistor configured toprovide a driving current, which corresponds to the received datasignal, to the organic light emitting diode OLED. The first transistorT1 may include a gate electrode connected to a first node N1, a firstelectrode connected to a second node N2, and a second electrodeconnected to a third node N3.

The second transistor T2 may provide the data signal to the firsttransistor T1 in response to a first scan signal GS1. In an exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concept, the second transistor T2may include a gate electrode configured to receive the first scan signalGS1 from an i^(th) scan line SLi, a first electrode configured toreceive the data signal from a j^(th) data line DLj, and a secondelectrode connected to the first electrode of the first transistor T1.For example, the second electrode of the second transistor T2 may beconnected to the second node N2.

The third transistor T3 may connect the second electrode of the firsttransistor T1 to the gate electrode of the first transistor T1 inresponse to a second scan signal GS2. In an exemplary embodiment of thepresent inventive concept, the third transistor T3 may include a gateelectrode configured to receive the second scan signal GS2 from ani^(th) inverted scan line /SL1, a first electrode connected to thesecond electrode of the first transistor T1, and a second electrodeconnected to the gate electrode of the first transistor T1. For example,the first electrode of the third transistor T3 may be connected to thethird node N3. For example, the second electrode of the third transistorT3 may be connected to the first node N1.

The fourth transistor T4 may apply the initialization voltage VINT tothe gate electrode of the first transistor T1 in response to a thirdscan signal GS3. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcept, the fourth transistor T4 may include a gate electrode, a firstelectrode connected to the initialization voltage VINT, and a secondelectrode connected to the gate electrode of the first transistor T1 atthe first node N1. The gate electrode of the fourth transistor T4 isconfigured to receive the third scan signal GS3 from an (i−1)^(th)inverted scan line /SL(i−1).

The fifth transistor T5 may apply the first power supply voltage ELVDDto the first electrode of the first transistor T1 in response to theemission control signal. In an exemplary embodiment of the presentinventive concept, the fifth transistor T5 may include a gate electrode,a first electrode connected to the first power supply voltage ELVDD, anda second electrode connected to the first electrode of the firsttransistor T1 at the second node N2. The gate electrode of the fifthtransistor T5 is configured to receive the emission control signal froman i^(th) emission control line Emi.

The sixth transistor T6 may connect the second electrode of the firsttransistor T1 to a first electrode of the organic light emitting diodeOLED in response to the emission control signal. In an exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concept, the sixth transistor T6 mayinclude a gate electrode, a first electrode connected to the secondelectrode of the first transistor T1 at the second node N2, and a secondelectrode connected to the first electrode of the organic light emittingdiode OLED at a fourth node N4. The gate electrode of the sixthtransistor T6 is configured to receive the emission control signal fromthe i^(th) emission control line Emi.

The seventh transistor T7 may apply the initialization voltage VINT tothe first electrode of the organic light emitting diode OLED in responseto a fourth scan signal GS4. In an exemplary embodiment of the presetinventive concept, the seventh transistor T7 may include a gateelectrode, a first electrode connected to the initialization voltageVINT, and a second electrode connected to the first electrode of theorganic light emitting diode OLED (i.e., the fourth node N4). The gateelectrode of the seventh transistor T7 is configured to receive thefourth scan signal GS4 from the (i−1)^(th) inverted scan line /SL(i−1)

The storage capacitor CST may include a first electrode connected to thefirst power supply voltage ELVDD and a second electrode connected to thegate electrode of the first transistor T1 at the first node N1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a display apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 3, the display apparatus may include a base substrate100, a buffer layer 110, an active pattern ACT, a first insulating layer120, a gate conductive layer, a second insulating layer 130, asource-drain conductive layer, a via insulating layer VIA, a pixeldefining layer PDL, a light emitting structure 180, and a thin filmencapsulation layer TFE.

The base substrate 100 may be formed of a transparent or opaquematerial. For example, the base substrate 100 may include a quartzsubstrate, a synthetic quartz substrate, a calcium fluoride substrate, afluorine-doped quartz substrate (e.g., an F-doped quartz substrate), asoda lime glass substrate, a non-alkali glass substrate, and the like.In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the basesubstrate 100 may be a transparent resin substrate having flexibility.Examples of the transparent resin substrate that may be used as the basesubstrate 100 include a polyimide substrate.

The buffer layer 110 may be disposed on the base substrate 100. Thebuffer layer 110 may prevent metal atoms or impurities from diffusingfrom the base substrate 100 into the active pattern ACT, and may controla heat transfer rate during a crystallization process for forming theactive pattern ACT to obtain a substantially uniform active pattern ACT.In addition, when a surface of the base substrate 100 is not uniform,the buffer layer 110 may serve to increase flatness of the surface ofthe base substrate 100. For example, the buffer layer 110 may planarizean upper surface of the base substrate 100.

The active pattern ACT of a thin film transistor TFT may be disposed onthe buffer layer 110. For example, the active pattern ACT may includepoly crystal silicon. The active pattern ACT may include a drain regionD and a source region S which are doped with impurities, and a channelregion C disposed between the drain region and the source region. Forexample, the poly crystal silicon may be formed by depositing amorphoussilicon and crystallizing the amorphous silicon. In an exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concept, the active pattern ACT mayinclude an oxide semiconductor. For example, the oxide semiconductor maybe a semiconductor oxide layer including a binary compound (AB_(x)), aternary compound (AB_(x)C_(y)), a quaternary compound(AB_(x)C_(y)D_(z)), and the like including tin (Sn), indium (In), zinc(Zn), gallium (Ga), titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), hafnium (Hf),zirconium (Zr), magnesium (Mg), and the like.

The first insulating layer 120 may be disposed on the active patternACT. For example, the first insulating layer 120 may be disposed along aprofile of the active pattern ACT with a substantially uniform thicknessto cover the active pattern ACT on the buffer layer 110. In addition,the first insulating layer 120 may cover the active pattern ACT on thebuffer layer 110, and may have a substantially flat top surface withoutcreating a step around the active pattern ACT. The first insulatinglayer 120 may include an inorganic insulating material such as a siliconcompound and metal oxide.

The gate conductive layer may be disposed on the first insulating layer120. The gate conductive layer may include a gate electrode GE of thethin film transistor TFT. The gate conductive layer may be formed byusing a metal, an alloy, metal nitride, conductive metal oxide, atransparent conductive material, and the like.

The second insulating layer 130 may cover the gate conductive layer onthe first insulating layer 120, and may have a substantially flat topsurface without creating a step around the gate conductive layer. Inaddition, the second insulating layer 130 may be disposed along aprofile of the gate conductive layer with a substantially uniformthickness to cover the gate conductive layer on the first insulatinglayer 120. The second insulating layer 130 may include an inorganicinsulating material such as a silicon compound and metal oxide.

The source-drain conductive layer may be disposed on the secondinsulating layer 130. The source-drain conductive layer may include aconnection electrode CE and a contact pad CP. The source-drainconductive layer may further include a signal wiring and a voltagewiring such as a data line (see, e.g., DL of FIG. 4) and a power line(see, e.g., PL of FIG. 4). The source-drain conductive layer may beformed by using a metal, an alloy, metal nitride, conductive metaloxide, a transparent conductive material, and the like. The connectionelectrode CE and the contact pad CP may each respectively contact thesource region S and the drain region D through respective contact holesformed in the first insulating layer 120 and the second insulating layer130.

The via insulating layer VIA may be disposed on the source-drainconductive layer. The via insulating layer VIA may have a single-layerstructure, and may also have a multilayer structure including at leasttwo insulating films. The via insulating layer VIA may be formed byusing an organic material such as a photoresist, an acryl-based resin, apolyimide-based resin, a polyamide-based resin, and a siloxane-basedresin.

The light emitting structure 180 may include a first electrode 181, alight emitting layer 182, and a second electrode 183.

The first electrode 181 may be disposed on the via insulating layer VIA.In addition, the first electrode 181 may be connected to the contact padCP through a contact hole formed in the via insulating layer VIA.Depending on a light emitting scheme of the display apparatus, the firstelectrode 181 may be formed by using, for example, a reflective materialor a transmissive material. In exemplary embodiment of the presentinventive concept, the first electrode 181 may have a single-layerstructure or a multilayer structure including, for example, a metalfilm, an alloy film, a metal nitride film, a conductive metal oxidefilm, and/or a transparent conductive material film.

The pixel defining layer PDL may be disposed on the via insulating layerVIA on which the first electrode 181 is disposed. The pixel defininglayer PDL may be formed by using an organic material, an inorganicmaterial, and the like. For example, the pixel defining layer PDL may beformed by using a photoresist, a polyacryl-based resin, apolyimide-based resin, an acryl-based resin, a silicon compound, and thelike. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, thepixel defining layer PDL may be etched to form an opening whichpartially exposes the first electrode 181. An emission area and anon-emission area of the display apparatus may be formed by the openingof the pixel defining layer PDL. For example, the opening of the pixeldefining layer PDL may correspond to the emission area, and thenon-emission area may correspond to a portion of the pixel defininglayer PDL adjacent to the opening of the pixel defining layer PDL.

The light emitting layer 182 may be disposed on the first electrode 181exposed through the opening of the pixel defining layer PDL. Forexample, the light emitting layer 182 may be disposed in the opening ofthe pixel defining layer PDL. In addition, the light emitting layer 182may extend onto a side wall of the opening of the pixel defining layerPDL. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, thelight emitting layer 182 may have a multilayer structure including anorganic light emitting layer, a hole injection layer, a hole transportlayer, an electron transport layer, an electron injection layer, and thelike. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept,except for the organic light emitting layer, the hole injection layer,the hole transport layer, the electron transport layer, the electroninjection layer, and the like may be commonly formed to correspond tothe plurality of pixels. The organic light emitting layer of the lightemitting layer 182 may be formed by using light emitting materials forgenerating different color lights such as red light, green light, andblue light according to each pixel of the display apparatus (see, e.g.,182 a, 182 b, and 182 c of FIG. 4).

The second electrode 183 may be disposed on the pixel defining layer PDLand the light emitting layer 182. Depending on a light emitting schemeof the display apparatus, the second electrode 183 may include atransmissive material or a reflective material. In an exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concept, the second electrode 183may have a single-layer structure or a multilayer structure including,for example, a metal film, an alloy film, a metal nitride film, aconductive metal oxide film, and/or a transparent conductive materialfilm.

The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be disposed on the secondelectrode 183. The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may preventmoisture and oxygen from penetrating the display apparatus from anoutside. The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may include at least oneorganic layer and at least one inorganic layer. The at least one organiclayer and the at least one inorganic layer may be alternately stacked oneach other. For example, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE mayinclude two inorganic layers and one organic layer disposedtherebetween, but the present inventive concept is not limited thereto.In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, a sealingsubstrate may be provided instead of the thin film encapsulation layerto block external air and moisture from penetrating into the displayapparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan diagram illustrating a source-drain conductive layer, apixel electrode, and a light emitting layer of the display apparatus ofFIG. 3. In FIG. 4, the plan view shows an area corresponding to one redsub-pixel (see 182 a), one blue sub-pixel (see 182 c), and four greensub-pixels (see 182 b).

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the source-drain conductive layer mayinclude a data line DL, a power line PL, a contact pad CP, and aconnection electrode CE.

The data line DL may extend in a second direction D2. The data line DLmay have a substantially straight line shape. In addition, the data lineDL may include a curved line portion DLb and a straight line portion DLaconnected to the curved line portion DLb. In addition, the data line DLis adjacent to the light emitting layer 182 c which is the emissionarea. For example, the connection between the straight line portion DLaand the curved line portion DLb is adjacent to the light emitting layer182 c.

The power line PL may extend in the second direction D2 while beingspaced apart from the first data line DLin a first direction D1. Inaddition, the power line PL may include a curved line portion PLb and astraight line portion PLa connected to the curved line portion PLb. Inaddition, the power line PL is adjacent to the light emitting layer 182c which is the emission area. For example, the connection between thestraight line portion PLa and the curved line portion PLb is adjacent tothe light emitting layer 182 c.

The above configuration is to prevent the connection electrode CE frombeing adjacent to the data line DL or the power line PL without a designmargin when the connection electrode CE has annular shape or the likewith a size increased in the first direction D substantiallyperpendicular to the second direction D2.

The red sub-pixel may include a first electrode 181 a, a red lightemitting layer 182 a, and a second electrode 183 a. The green sub-pixelmay include a first electrode 181 b, a green light emitting layer 182 b,and a second electrode 183 b. The blue sub-pixel may include a firstelectrode 181 c, a blue light emitting layer 182 c, and a secondelectrode 183 c.

In the blue sub-pixel, the contact pad CP may be electrically connectedto the first electrode 181 c through a contact hole formed through thevia insulating layer VIA (see, e.g., FIG. 3). The contact pad CP may notoverlap the blue light emitting layer 182 c disposed in the opening ofthe pixel defining layer PDL

In addition, in the red sub-pixel or the green sub-pixel, contact padsCP corresponding to the respective pixels may be electrically connectedto the first electrodes 181 a and 181 b through contact holes formedthrough the via insulating layer VIA, respectively. The contact pads maynot overlap the red light emitting layer 182 a and the green lightemitting layer 182 b.

The connection electrode CE may overlap the blue light emitting layer182 c. The connection electrode CE may include a first contact portion,a second contact portion spaced apart from the first contact portion inthe second direction D2, and a curved wiring portion which connects thefirst contact portion to the second contact portion. The configurationwill be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 5C and 5D.

The connection electrode CE may be formed to correspond to each of thesub-pixels, and a connection electrode CE which overlaps the blue lightemitting layer 182 c may include a curved wiring portion. Accordingly, aconcavo-convex portion corresponding to the connection electrode CE maybe formed on a top surface of the via insulating layer VIA (see, e.g.,the top surface of the via insulating layer VIA of FIG. 3). For example,the top surface of the via insulating layer VIA may be uneven andinclude protrusions and indentations. Since the via insulating layer VIAis not completely planarized, the via insulating layer VIA may have aninclined portion (e.g., concavo-convex portion) along the connectionelectrode CE which is a wiring disposed under the via insulating layerVIA, and a concavo-convex portion corresponding to the concavo-convexportion of the via insulating layer VIA may be formed on a top surfaceof the first electrode 181 c (see, e.g., the top surface of 181 of FIG.3).

For example, the connection electrode CE is a portion of thesource-drain conductive layer, and the source-drain conductive layergenerally extends in the second direction D2, in which a white angulardifference (WAD) may vary according to an azimuth angle. For example, adeviation of the WAD may occur when the display apparatus is viewedobliquely from a left or right side of the display apparatus and whenthe display apparatus is viewed obliquely from an upper or lower side ofthe display apparatus.

According to the present embodiment, the connection electrode CEincludes the curved wiring portion, so that the concavo-convex portionmay be formed in a curved line. Accordingly, WAD distribution may beimproved, and variations of luminance and color coordinates according toan azimuth angle may be reduced.

Here, the WAD is a factor for evaluating a variation of white lightemission characteristics according to an observation angle with respectto an organic light emitting diode display apparatus, and is an indexfor checking a degree of improvement of a wide viewing angle. Forexample, referring to the WAD, compared to a case in which the shapestructure of the connection electrode according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concept is not applied, a luminancevariation and a color coordinate variation according to a variation ofthe observation angle on the basis of a front side which isperpendicular to a screen of the display apparatus may be reduced, sothat display quality may be increased.

Here, as a WAD improvement rate becomes high, there is no greatdifference in the luminance variation and the color coordinate variationwhen obliquely viewing the display apparatus from a side of the displayapparatus as compared with a case where the display apparatus is viewedfrom the front side of the display apparatus.

In addition, due to the concavo-convex portion formed on the top surfaceof the first electrode by the curved wiring portion of the connectionelectrode CE, variations of luminance and color coordinates according tothe azimuth angle may be reduced. In other words, when the displayapparatus is viewed obliquely in various directions such as up, down,left, and right directions, the luminance variation and the colorcoordinate variation according to a variation of an observation azimuthangle may be reduced, so that the display quality may be increased.

In addition, a thickness of the blue light emitting layer 182 c may besmaller than a thickness of each of the red light emitting layer 182 aand the green light emitting layer 182 b. For example, the thickness ofthe green light emitting layer 182 b may be greater than the thicknessof the blue light emitting layer 182 c, and the thickness of the redlight emitting layer 182 a may be greater than the thickness of thegreen light emitting layer 182 b. Therefore, the blue light emittinglayer 182 c having the smallest thickness may have a large WAD or alarge deviation according to an azimuth angle due to the concavo-convexportion formed on the top surface of the first electrode, and the WAD orthe deviation according to the azimuth angle from being increased due tothe curved wiring portion of the connection electrode CE.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are plan diagrams illustrating various examplesof connection electrodes of a display apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the connection electrode CE may include: a firstcontact portion CT1; a second contact portion CT2 spaced apart from thefirst contact portion CT1 in the second direction D2; a connectionwiring portion CL which connects the first contact portion CT1 to thesecond contact portion CT2; and a dummy portion including a horizontalportion DMa extending in the first direction D1 and connected to thesecond contact portion CT2, and a vertical portion DMb extending in thesecond direction D2 and connected to the horizontal portion DMa. Thedummy portion may overlap the light emitting layer 182 c. For example,the light emitting layer 182 c may completely overlap the dummy portion.

Similar to the curved wiring portion described in FIG. 4, the dummyportion may form an inclined portion (concavo-convex portion) on the topsurface of the first electrode. Accordingly, the WAD and deviations inluminance and color coordinates according to an azimuth angle may beimproved.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the connection electrode CE may include: a firstcontact portion CT1; a second contact portion CT2 spaced apart from thefirst contact portion CT1 in the second direction D2; a connectionwiring portion CL which connects the first contact portion CT1 to thesecond contact portion CT2; and a dummy portion including a firsthorizontal portion DMa1 and a second horizontal portion DMa2 extendingleft and right in the first direction D1 from the connection wiringportion CL, respectively. The dummy portion may be electricallyconnected to the first contact portion CT1, the second contact portionCT2, and the connection portion CL of the connection electrode CE, andmay have various shapes in addition to the shapes illustrated in FIGS.5A and 5B. For example, the dummy portion may have a curved line shapeas well as a straight line shape.

Referring to FIG. 5C, the connection electrode CE may include a firstcontact portion CT1, a second contact portion CT2 spaced apart from thefirst contact portion CT1 in the second direction D2, and a first curvedwiring portion CL1 and a second curved wiring portion CL2 which connectthe first contact portion CT1 to the second contact portion CT2. Thefirst curved wiring portion CL1 and the second curved wiring portion CL2may have annular shape. The first curved wiring portion CL1 and thesecond curved wiring portion CL2 having the annular shape may overlapthe light emitting layer 182 c. For example, the first curved wiringportion CL1 and the second curved wiring portion CL2 may be completelyoverlapped by the light emitting layer 182 c.

Referring to FIG. 5D, the connection electrode CE may include a firstcontact portion CT1, a second contact portion CT2 spaced apart from thefirst contact portion CT1 in the second direction D2, and a curvedwiring portion CCL which connects the first contact portion CT1 to thesecond contact portion CT2. The curved wiring portion CCL may have anarc shape or a curved shape. The curved wiring portion CCL may overlapthe light emitting layer 182 c. For example, the light emitting layer182 c may completely overlap the curved wiring portion CCL.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram of a display apparatus according toan exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, and FIG. 7 isa plan diagram illustrating an electrode, a pixel electrode, and a lightemitting layer of the display apparatus of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the display apparatus may include a basesubstrate 100, a buffer layer 110, an active pattern ACT of a thin filmtransistor TFT, a first insulating layer 120, a first gate conductivelayer, a second insulating layer 130, a second gate conductive layer, athird insulating layer 140, a first source-drain conductive layer, afirst via insulating layer VIA1, a second source-drain conductive layer,a second via insulating layer VIA2, a pixel defining layer PDL, a lightemitting structure 180, and a thin film encapsulation layer TFE.Components of the display apparatus of FIG. 6 may be substantially thesame as the components of the display apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4,respectively, except that the display apparatus of FIG. 6 furtherincludes the second source-drain conductive layer, Thus, any redundantdescriptions thereof may be omitted.

The first gate conductive layer may include a gate electrode GE of thethin film transistor TFT. The second gate conductive layer may include astorage electrode STE which overlaps the gate electrode GE to form astorage capacitor.

The first source-drain conductive layer may include a source electrodeSE and a drain electrode DE of the thin film transistor TFT. The secondsource-drain conductive layer may include an electrode EL. The electrodeEL may include a contact portion CP, a dummy curved wiring portion DMspaced apart from the contact portion CP in the second direction D2, anda connection wiring portion CL which connects the dummy curved wiringportion DM to the contact portion CP. The dummy curved wiring portion DMmay have a curved line shape, and may have, for example, an annularshape. The dummy curved wiring portion DM may overlap the light emittinglayer 182 of the light emitting structure 180. For example, the dummycurved wiring portion DM may be completely overlapped by the lightemitting layer 182.

The contact portion CP of the electrode EL may be electrically connectedto the first electrode 181 of the light emitting structure 180 through acontact hole formed through the second via insulating layer VIA2. Thecontact portion CP of the electrode EL may be electrically connected tothe thin film transistor TFT through a contact hole formed through thefirst via insulating layer VIA1.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, theelectrode EL may be similar to the connection electrodes in FIGS. 5A-5D.For example, the electrode EL may include a first contact portion, asecond contact portion spaced apart from the first contact, and a curvedwiring portion connecting the first and second contact portions to eachother. For example, the first contact portion or the second contactportion may be connected to the thin film transistor TFT. However, thepresent inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, each ofthe first contact portion and the second contact portion may beelectrically connected to a conductive pattern (e.g., the thin filmtransistor TFT) through a contact hole formed through the first viainsulating layer VIA1.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic apparatus accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, FIG. 9A isa diagram illustrating an example in which the electronic apparatus ofFIG. 8 is implemented as a television, and FIG. 9B is a diagramillustrating an example in which the electronic apparatus of FIG. 8 isimplemented as a smart phone.

Referring FIGS. 8 and 9, the electronic apparatus 500 may include aprocessor 510, a memory device 520, a storage device 530, aninput/output (I/O) device 540, a power supply 550, and a displayapparatus 560. Here, the display apparatus 560 may be the displayapparatus of FIG. 1. In addition, the electronic apparatus 500 mayfurther include a plurality of ports for communicating with, forexample, a video card, a sound card, a memory card, a universal serialbus (USB) device, other electronic apparatuses, etc. In an exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concept, as illustrated in FIG. 9A,the electronic apparatus 500 may be implemented as a television. In anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, as illustrated inFIG. 9B, the electronic apparatus 500 may be implemented as a smartphone. However, the electronic apparatus 500 is not limited thereto. Forexample, the electronic apparatus 500 may be implemented as a cellularphone, a video phone, a smart pad, a smart watch, a tablet personalcomputer (PC), a car navigation system, a computer monitor, a laptop, ahead mounted display (HMD) apparatus, etc.

The processor 510 may perform various computing functions. The processor510 may be a micro processor, a central processing unit (CPU), anapplication processor (AP), etc. The processor 510 may be coupled toother components via an address bus, a control bus, a data bus, etc.Further, the processor 510 may be coupled to an extended bus such as aperipheral component interconnection (PCI) bus. The memory device 520may store data for operations of the electronic apparatus 500. Forexample, the memory device 520 may include at least one non-volatilememory device such as an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM)device, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)device, a flash memory device, a phase change random access memory(PRAM) device, a resistance random access memory (RRAM) device, a nanofloating gate memory (NFGM) device, a polymer random access memory(PoRAM) device, a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device, aferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) device, etc. and/or at leastone volatile memory device such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)device, a static random access memory (SRAM) device, a mobile DRAMdevice, etc. For example, the storage device 530 may include a solidstate drive (SSD) device, a hard disk drive (HDD) device, a CD-ROMdevice, etc. The I/O device 540 may include an input device such as akeyboard, a keypad, a mouse device, a touch-pad, a touch-screen, etc.,and an output device such as a printer, a speaker, etc. The power supply550 may provide power for operations of the electronic apparatus 500.

The display apparatus 560 may be coupled to other components via thebuses or other communication links. In an exemplary embodiment of thepresent inventive concept, the 1/O device 540 may include the displayapparatus 560. As described above, in the display apparatus 560, aconnection electrode of a source-drain conductive layer disposed under alight emitting layer of a light emitting structure includes a curvedwiring portion or a dummy portion, so that a concavo-convex portion maybe formed on a top surface of a first electrode of the light emittingstructure. Accordingly, WAD distribution may be improved, and variationsof luminance and color coordinates according to an azimuth angle may bereduced. Since these are described above, the duplicated descriptionrelated thereto will not be repeated.

The present inventive concept may be applied to a display apparatus andan electronic apparatus including the display apparatus. For example,the present inventive concept may be applied to a smart phone, acellular phone, a video phone, a smart pad, a smart watch, a tablet PC,a car navigation system, a television, a computer monitor, a laptop, ahead mounted display apparatus, etc.

While the present inventive concept has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those ofordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent inventive concept.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus comprising: a base substrate;a thin film transistor disposed on the base substrate and including anactive pattern; an insulating layer disposed on the active pattern ofthe thin film transistor; a connection electrode disposed on theinsulating layer, and electrically connected to the thin filmtransistor, wherein the connection electrode includes a curved wiringportion; a first via insulating layer covering the connection electrode;a first electrode disposed on the first via insulating layer; a lightemitting layer disposed on the first electrode and at least partiallyoverlapping the connection electrode; and a second electrode disposed onthe light emitting layer.
 2. The display apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: a plurality of data lines arranged along a first direction,wherein each of the data lines extend in a second direction crossing thefirst direction, wherein the connection electrode includes a firstcontact portion, a second contact portion spaced apart from the firstcontact portion in the second direction, and the curved wiring portionwhich connects the first contact portion to the second contact portion.3. The display apparatus of claim 2, wherein a data line, of theplurality of data lines, adjacent to the connection electrode includes astraight line portion and a curved line portion connected to thestraight line portion, wherein the curved line portion is adjacent tothe curved wiring portion of the connection electrode.
 4. The displayapparatus of claim 1, wherein the light emitting layer includes a bluelight emitting layer configured to emit blue light.
 5. The displayapparatus of claim 4, further comprising: a red light emitting layerspaced apart from the blue light emitting layer and configured to emitred light; and a green light emitting layer spaced apart from the bluelight emitting layer and the red light emitting layer and configured toemit green light, wherein a thickness of the blue light emitting layeris smaller than a thickness of each of the red and green light emittinglayers.
 6. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: aplurality of power lines arranged along a first direction, wherein eachof the power lines extend in a second direction crossing the firstdirection, wherein the connection electrode includes a first contactportion, a second contact portion spaced apart from the first contactportion in the second direction, and the curved wiring portion whichconnects the first contact portion to the second contact portion, andwherein a power line, of the plurality of power lines, adjacent to theconnection electrode includes a straight line portion and a curved lineportion connected to the straight line portion, wherein the curved lineportion is adjacent to the curved wiring portion of the connectionelectrode.
 7. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connectionelectrode includes a first contact portion, a second contact portionspaced apart from the first contact portion, and the curved wiringportion connecting the first contact portion to the second contactportion, and wherein the curved wiring portion has an annular shape. 8.The display apparatus of claim 7, wherein the curved wiring portionoverlaps the light emitting layer.
 9. The display apparatus of claim 1,wherein the connection electrode includes a first contact portion, asecond contact portion spaced apart from the first contact portion, andthe curved wiring portion connecting the first contact portion to thesecond contact portion, and wherein the curved wiring portion has acurved shape.
 10. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:source and drain electrodes disposed between the base substrate and theconnection electrode; and a second via insulating layer disposed betweenthe source and drain electrodes and the connection electrode, whereinthe connection electrode is electrically connected to the drainelectrode through a contact hole formed through the second viainsulating layer.
 11. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein theconnection electrode includes a contact portion and the curved wiringportion connected to the contact portion, and wherein the contactportion of the connection electrode is electrically connected to thefirst electrode through a contact hole formed through the first viainsulating layer.
 12. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein thecurved wiring portion of the connection electrode has an annular shape,and wherein the curved wiring portion overlaps the light emitting layer.13. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the curved wiring portionof the connection electrode has a curved shape, and wherein the curvedwiring portion overlaps the light emitting layer.
 14. The displayapparatus of claim 10, wherein the connection electrode includes a firstcontact portion, a second contact portion spaced apart from the firstcontact portion, and the curved wiring portion which connects the firstcontact portion to the second contact portion, and wherein each of thefirst contact portion and the second contact portion is electricallyconnected to a conductive pattern of another layer through a contacthole formed through the second via insulating layer.
 15. The displayapparatus of claim 1, wherein a concavo-convex portion corresponding tothe connection electrode is formed on a top surface of the first viainsulating layer.
 16. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein aconcavo-convex portion corresponding to the concavo-convex portion ofthe first via insulating layer is formed on a top surface of the firstelectrode.
 17. A display apparatus comprising: a base substrate; a thinfilm transistor disposed on the base substrate and including an activepattern; an insulating layer disposed on the active pattern of the thinfilm transistor; a connection electrode disposed on the insulatinglayer, and electrically connected to the thin film transistor, whereinthe connection electrode includes a dummy portion including a horizontalportion extending in a first direction; a via insulating layer coveringthe connection electrode; a first electrode disposed on the viainsulating layer, a light emitting layer disposed on the first electrodeand overlapping the dummy portion of the connection electrode; and asecond electrode disposed on the light emitting layer.
 18. The displayapparatus of claim 17, wherein the dummy portion further includes avertical portion extending in a second direction substantiallyperpendicular to the first direction.
 19. The display apparatus of claim17, wherein the connection electrode further includes a first contactportion, a second contact portion spaced apart from the first contactportion in a second direction, and a connection wiring portionconnecting the first contact portion to the second contact portion, andwherein the dummy portion extends from the first contact portion, thesecond contact portion, or the connection wiring portion, and whereinthe dummy portion overlaps the light emitting layer.
 20. The displayapparatus of claim 17, wherein the light emitting layer is a blue lightemitting layer configured to emit blue light, wherein the displayapparatus further comprises: a red light emitting layer spaced apartfrom the blue light emitting layer and configured to emit red light; anda green light emitting layer spaced apart from the blue light emittinglayer and the red light emitting layer and configured to emit greenlight, and wherein a thickness of the blue light emitting layer issmaller than a thickness of each of the red and green light emittinglayers.